An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 shook parts of Afghanistan on Wednesday, triggering tremors that were reportedly felt as far as the Delhi-NCR region in India, according to Reuters.
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) stated that the earthquake originated at a depth of 121 kilometers (approximately 75 miles). Its epicentre was located around 164 kilometers east of Baghlan, a city home to nearly 108,000 people.
Initially, the EMSC had recorded the tremor at a stronger magnitude of 6.4, but the reading was subsequently revised to 5.6.
Residents in India’s Delhi-NCR region reported experiencing tremors as well, with several users sharing their reactions on the social media platform X. One user, @kapoor_aamaya, wrote, “Anyone who felt the earthquake in Delhi?” Another user shared, “Did y’all feel the earthquake in Delhi rn???”
In a separate incident earlier on the same day, a 2.4-magnitude quake was detected in Jammu & Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS).
The NCS, through a post on X, mentioned that the tremor occurred at 5:14 a.m. IST and pinpointed the location at Latitude 33.18° N and Longitude 75.89° E, with the earthquake striking at a shallow depth of just 5 kilometers.
This recent quake is one among several tremors that have impacted various Asian territories in the past few days.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has emphasized that Afghanistan remains at significant risk from natural calamities like landslides, seasonal floods, and earthquakes.
These recurring quakes often affect vulnerable populations already dealing with years of conflict, infrastructural underdevelopment, and a lack of resources, which severely hampers their ability to recover from multiple crises, the UNOCHA noted.
Afghanistan’s seismic vulnerability stems from its location along numerous geological fault lines, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates intersect. One such fault line also cuts through the Herat region, according to a report by ANI.
The Red Cross also pointed out that the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan is one of the most seismically active zones, witnessing earthquakes every year.
Coinciding with the Afghanistan tremor, another earthquake of magnitude 5.6 was recorded off the southern coast of the Philippines, AFP reported, quoting the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The tremor near the Philippine island of Mindanao had a depth of 30 kilometers (about 18.6 miles), as per the USGS.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology identified the epicentre roughly 43 kilometers southwest of Maitum town, a region known for its mountainous terrain and sparse population.
According to AFP, local officials have not reported major damages or casualties. Gilbert Rolifor, a fire department official from Maitum, said, “It was strong but didn’t last long. We have checked but it was negative (for damage or casualties).”
Earthquake of magnitude 5.6 strikes Afghanistan; tremors reach Delhi-NCR
An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 shook parts of Afghanistan on Wednesday, triggering tremors that were reportedly felt as far as the Delhi-NCR region in India, according to Reuters.
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) stated that the earthquake originated at a depth of 121 kilometers (approximately 75 miles). Its epicentre was located around 164 kilometers east of Baghlan, a city home to nearly 108,000 people.
Initially, the EMSC had recorded the tremor at a stronger magnitude of 6.4, but the reading was subsequently revised to 5.6.
Residents in India’s Delhi-NCR region reported experiencing tremors as well, with several users sharing their reactions on the social media platform X. One user, @kapoor_aamaya, wrote, “Anyone who felt the earthquake in Delhi?” Another user shared, “Did y’all feel the earthquake in Delhi rn???”
In a separate incident earlier on the same day, a 2.4-magnitude quake was detected in Jammu & Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS).
The NCS, through a post on X, mentioned that the tremor occurred at 5:14 a.m. IST and pinpointed the location at Latitude 33.18° N and Longitude 75.89° E, with the earthquake striking at a shallow depth of just 5 kilometers.
This recent quake is one among several tremors that have impacted various Asian territories in the past few days.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has emphasized that Afghanistan remains at significant risk from natural calamities like landslides, seasonal floods, and earthquakes.
These recurring quakes often affect vulnerable populations already dealing with years of conflict, infrastructural underdevelopment, and a lack of resources, which severely hampers their ability to recover from multiple crises, the UNOCHA noted.
Afghanistan’s seismic vulnerability stems from its location along numerous geological fault lines, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates intersect. One such fault line also cuts through the Herat region, according to a report by ANI.
The Red Cross also pointed out that the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan is one of the most seismically active zones, witnessing earthquakes every year.
Coinciding with the Afghanistan tremor, another earthquake of magnitude 5.6 was recorded off the southern coast of the Philippines, AFP reported, quoting the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The tremor near the Philippine island of Mindanao had a depth of 30 kilometers (about 18.6 miles), as per the USGS.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology identified the epicentre roughly 43 kilometers southwest of Maitum town, a region known for its mountainous terrain and sparse population.
According to AFP, local officials have not reported major damages or casualties. Gilbert Rolifor, a fire department official from Maitum, said, “It was strong but didn’t last long. We have checked but it was negative (for damage or casualties).”
